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On Free Will and The Law
Davenant Press

On Free Will and The Law

by Peter Martyr Vermigli

Is fallen man free?

Peter Martyr Vermigli (1499-1562) was a forgotten giant of the Protestant Reformation. Born in Florence, Italy, and rising quickly to leadership within the Augustinian Order in Italy, Vermigli discovered the gospel of justification and embarked on a reforming career that would take him to Naples, Lucca, Zurich, Strasbourg, Oxford, and finally back to Strasbourg and Zurich again, as he worked shoulder-to-shoulder with other leading Protestant Reformers Heinrich Bullinger, Martin Bucer, and Thomas Cranmer. He left behind him voluminous biblical commentaries and treatises, and a band of faithful disciples who collected his writings into the massive theological compendium, the

Loci Communes

Appearing now in English for the first time since 1583,

On Free Will and the Law

represents Part II, Ch. 2 and 3 of the

Loci Communes

of Peter Martyr Vermigli. Presented here in a clear, readable, and learned translation, we first have Vermigli’s deft treatment of the thorny issue of free will. Demonstrating clearly his peerless erudition and subtle mind, Vermigli simultaneously upholds the the fallen will’s enslavement to sin and freedom to act. Likewise, Vermigli’s considerably more brief exposition of the catholic doctrine of the Law alongside his criticisms of Manichean and Pelagian errors is a helpful summary of Protestant teaching on this issue. With the Scriptures as his final authority, the Church Fathers as his guides, and philosophy as his handmaid, Vermigli produced

Loci

that withstand the rigors of time and remain a helpful guide to Protestants everywhere.

This expanded second edition includes updated artwork, a fresh typeset, and a comprehensive index.

$26.95
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About the Author

Dr. Joseph A. Tipton

(Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh) researches early modern literature, focusing primarily on the Reformers’ use of classical Greek and Latin literature to represent and advance their project of reform. Dr. Tipton has published on the German Neo-Latin poets Petrus, Lotichius, and Simon Stenius, and his current project is a translation of Samuel Rutherford’s Dictates on the Doctrine of Scripture . Dr. Tipton lives in Orlando, Florida, where he teaches Greek and Latin at The Geneva School.

“Legend has it that Peter Martyr Vermigli descended out of the Italian Alps as the ‘ready-made Reformer,’ and his Common Places certainly confirm both his reputation and why so many esteemed his work. His Common Places were posthumously extracted from his biblical commentaries, which means that they are insightfully exegetical and theological. Students of the Reformation would do well to pick up this book and see for themselves the deep currents that run through his work. Students of Scripture will also greatly profit from one who knows the Bible so well.”

Harriet Barbour Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary Jackson, Mississippi

“Peter Martyr Vermigli is undoubtedly one of the most significant Reformed theologians of the sixteenth century and his Common Places is the crown jewel of his collected works. The rendering of this work into contemporary English is a great service to the understanding of Reformation thought and will be enriching for scholars and pastors alike. Vermigli’s theological training and acumen are on full display here and the results are rightly esteemed as a masterwork of Reformed theology.”

The Acton Institute, Junius Institute, author of Covenant, Causality, and Law: A Study in the Theology of Wolfgang Musculus

“Vermigli was one of the most important theologians of the sixteenth century. His Loci Communes is a collated summary of his theology and I am delighted to see this part of it made accessible in a new translation to an English speaking readership.”

Publication Details

  • Publisher: Davenant Press
  • ISBN: 978-1949716368
  • Publication Date: august 29, 2024
  • Pages: 146
  • Author: Peter Martyr Vermigli
  • Price: $26.95

Endorsements

  • “Legend has it that Peter Martyr Vermigli descended out of the Italian Alps as the ‘ready-made Reformer,’ and his Common Places certainly confirm both his reputation and why so many esteemed his work. His Common Places were posthumously extracted from his biblical commentaries, which means that they are insightfully exegetical and theological. Students of the Reformation would do well to pick up this book and see for themselves the deep currents that run through his work. Students of Scripture will also greatly profit from one who knows the Bible so well.”

    — J.V. Fesko, Harriet Barbour Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary Jackson, Mississippi

  • “Peter Martyr Vermigli is undoubtedly one of the most significant Reformed theologians of the sixteenth century and his Common Places is the crown jewel of his collected works. The rendering of this work into contemporary English is a great service to the understanding of Reformation thought and will be enriching for scholars and pastors alike. Vermigli’s theological training and acumen are on full display here and the results are rightly esteemed as a masterwork of Reformed theology.”

    — Jordan J. Ballor, The Acton Institute, Junius Institute, author of Covenant, Causality, and Law: A Study in the Theology of Wolfgang Musculus

  • “Vermigli was one of the most important theologians of the sixteenth century. His Loci Communes is a collated summary of his theology and I am delighted to see this part of it made accessible in a new translation to an English speaking readership.”

    — Robert Lethem, Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, Union School of Theology, UK

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